Card activated cash dispensing automated banking machine system and method

ABSTRACT

An automated banking machine system operates to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from data bearing records. The system is operative to read a financial card bearing account indicia with a card reader. A user is enabled to perform at least one banking operation responsive to account indicia read from the card. Such banking operations may include dispensing cash and accessing financial accounts. The card reader may include a data store including a card reader device driver therein. The card reader may further communicate the device driver to a automated banking machine software application component, which is operative to use the device driver to operate the card reader.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.12/931,004 filed Jan. 21, 2011, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/800,499 filed May 17, 2010, which is acontinuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/584,378 filed Sep. 4, 2009(now U.S. Pat. No. 7,717,332), which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/290,886 filed Nov. 3, 2008 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,611,049), which is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.11/639,660 filed Dec. 15, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,445,146).

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/639,660 is a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 10/892,257 filed Jul. 14, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,150,393), which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No.09/966,932 filed Sep. 27, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,490), whichclaims benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of U.S. ProvisionalApplication 60/237,812 filed Oct. 4, 2000.

Application Ser. No. 11/639,660 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/776,503 filed Feb. 2, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,483,859), which claims benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of bothU.S. Provisional Application 60/180,490 filed Feb. 5, 2000 and U.S.Provisional Application 60/250,269 filed Nov. 30, 2000.

Application Ser. No. 11/639,660 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 11/415,531 filed May 2, 2006 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,201,313), which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.10/795,926 filed Mar. 8, 2004 (now U.S. Pat. No. 7,040,533), which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/826,675 filed Apr.5, 2001 (now U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,181), which is a divisional of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/076,051 filed May 11, 1998 (now U.S. Pat. No.6,315,195), which claims benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 (e) of U.S.Provisional Application 60/082,299 filed Apr. 17, 1998.

Application Ser. No. 11/639,660 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S.application Ser. No. 09/505,594 filed Feb. 16, 2000 (now U.S. Pat. No.7,542,944), which claims benefit pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of bothU.S. Provisional Application 60/133,579 filed May 11, 1999 and U.S.Provisional Application 60/120,506 filed Feb. 17, 1999. The disclosuresof all of the above applications are herein incorporated by reference intheir entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

An exemplary embodiment relates to automated banking machines thatoperate to cause financial transfers responsive to data read from databearing records which may be classified in U.S. Class 235, Subclass 379.

BACKGROUND

Automated banking machines are known. Automated banking machines mayenable customers to carry out banking transactions. Banking transactionsthat may be carried out with automated banking machines may include thedispensing of cash, the receipt of deposits, the transfer of fundsbetween accounts, the payment of bills, cashing checks, receiving moneyorders and account balance inquiries. The type of banking transactions acustomer can carry out are often determined by the capabilities of theparticular banking machine and the programming of the machine by theinstitution operating the machine. A type of automated banking machineused by consumers is an automated teller machine (ATM). Other types ofautomated banking machines may allow customers to charge againstaccounts or to transfer funds. Other types of automated banking machinesmay print or dispense items of value such as coupons, tickets, wageringslips, vouchers, checks, food stamps, money orders, scrip or travelerschecks. For purposes of this disclosure an ATM, automated bankingmachine or automated transaction machine shall encompass any devicewhich carries out transactions including transfers of value.

OBJECTS OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

It is an object of an exemplary embodiment to provide a card activatedautomated banking machine at which a user may conduct bankingtransactions.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment to provide a cardactivated automated banking machine which dispenses cash.

It is a further object of an exemplary embodiment is to provide methodsfor operation of a card activated cash dispensing automated bankingmachine system.

Further objects of other exemplary embodiments will be made apparent inthe following Detailed Description of Exemplary Embodiments and theappended claims.

The foregoing objects are accomplished in an exemplary embodiment by anautomated banking machine that includes output devices such as a displayscreen, speakers, and a receipt printer. The automated banking machinealso includes input devices such as a card reader, touch screen, keypadand/or a function keys. The automated banking machine further includestransaction function devices such as a dispenser mechanism for sheets ofcurrency, a printer mechanism, a depository mechanism and othertransaction function devices that are used by the machine in carryingout banking transactions. In addition the automated banking machine mayinclude communication devices, such as networking components whichenable the machine to communicate with other machines and devices acrossa wired or wireless network.

The automated banking machine is in operative connection with at leastone computer. The computer is in operative connection with the outputdevices, the input devices, the communication devices, and thetransaction function devices in the machine. The computer is operativeto execute a plurality of software applications stored in a local datastore such as a hard drive, flash memory, or other application storagemedium. Such software applications may include an operating system. Suchsoftware applications may also include automated banking machinesoftware that is operative to provide the computer with the programmingnecessary to cause the machine to carry out a plurality of differentbanking functions and other operations as described below in moredetail.

The exemplary embodiment of the machine further includes a wirelessnetwork interface. The wireless network interface is operative toprovide the machine with wireless access at at least one public,private, and/or proprietary network. In one exemplary embodiment thewireless network interface includes a digital cellular receiver andtransmitter in operative connection with the computer. The computer isoperative to use the wireless network interface to call out over adigital cellular communication network to form a secure connection witha remote host banking system. Transaction messages may then becommunicated between the machine and the host banking system throughwireless digital cellular calls.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment the wireless network interfaceincludes a wireless ethernet network interface card in operativeconnection with the computer. The computer is operative to wirelesslyconnect to a wireless ethernet hub (also referred to herein as awireless access point) located within range of the machine. Theexemplary wireless ethernet hub is in operative connection with one ormore public or private wide area networks that include one or more hostbanking systems.

In exemplary embodiments, the automated banking machine may be operativeto authorize and perform transactions with the host banking system bysending and receiving communications across a wireless connection. Thewireless connection enables the exemplary machine to be placed inlocations which do not have physical access to a land line basedcommunication network connection or port. For example it may bedesirable to place an automated banking machine in a location such asthe middle of a room or hallway. Such locations are typically verydifficult to wire with a communication port because there is often noadjacent wall or poll to route a network or phone line. Alternativeexemplary embodiments may include automated banking machines located onportable structures or on vehicles.

In a further exemplary embodiment an automated banking machine may beadapted to provide portable wireless devices with access to a public orprivate wide area network in operative connection with the machine. Insuch embodiments, an exemplary wireless network interface of the machinemay include a wireless hub, router or gateway device that is selectivelyoperative to give portable wireless devices fee based access to a widearea network such as the Internet. Examples of portable wireless devicesinclude notebook computers, cell phones, PDAs, Palm® compatible devicesor any other portable or handheld computing device that has wirelessfunctionality.

When the wireless device initially connects to the machine, informationcorresponding to an account associated with the portable wireless devicemay be communicated to the machine. The automated banking machineresponsive to the account information may verify that the account isvalid by further communicating with a host banking system or otherauthorization server. Once authorization is verified the machine maygive the portable wireless device access to the wide area network

In exemplary embodiments the automated banking machine may acceptinformation corresponding to an account such as a credit card or debitcard account. Such an exemplary machine may provide access to the widearea network for a fee which is charged to the credit or debit card.Alternatively charges may be made to data representative of monetaryvalue on a smart card or stored in a memory in or operatively connectedto the portable device. Such a fee for example may be based on theamount of time the user spends connected to the wide area network, theamount of data being communicated, or a flat fee rate for unlimitedaccess for a certain time period. Exemplary embodiments may accept otherforms of payment such as electronic money transferred from the device.Also the machine may accept payment by direct transfer of money from anauthorized checking account, savings account or other financial accountassociated with the portable wireless device to an account associatedwith the machine. In one or more of the previously describedembodiments, the machine may further require the user to enter anidentification value, a password or a personal identification number(PIN) that is associated with the user or their account.

In some exemplary embodiments the machine may accept an Internet ServiceProvider (ISP) account and a password associated with the account. Themachine may access an ISP that is associated with the account todetermine if the remote device is permitted access. The machine may thenreport the amount of usage to the ISP and the service provider may billthe owner of the device for the cost of the network usage.

In a further exemplary embodiment, an automated banking machine mayenable a portable wireless device to conduct transactions with theautomated banking machine. Such transactions may include for example thedispense of cash, a balance inquiry, the transfer of funds betweenaccounts, the payment of bills, the deposit of checks, cash, or transferof electronic money to or from an account, the purchase of tickets, orany other transaction that includes the transfer of value.

For transactions such as the withdrawal, of physical cash, exemplaryembodiments of an automated banking machine may enable multiple portablewireless devices to perform the majority of the transaction steps at adistance from the machine and then individually prompt each user of adevice to come into proximity with the machine and receive thecorresponding cash withdrawal. To limit the potential for cash to bedispensed to the incorrect user, the machine may further require theportable wireless device to send a “dispense now” or other message whenthe user is standing next to the cash dispenser device portion of themachine or is otherwise in position to receive the requested cash.

In an exemplary embodiment, the automated banking machine may enable aplurality of users to wirelessly access the machine at the same timeand/or during overlapping time period using portable devices. Throughsuch wireless access, the machine may wirelessly enable a plurality ofportable devices to simultaneously search and purchase digital contentpreviously stored on the machine. Digital content purchased throughoperation of the machine may be wirelessly transmitted from theautomated machine to the respective portable wireless device whichissued the commands to purchase the digital content. Examples of digitalcontent available for being wirelessly purchased and received throughoperation of the automated banking machine include media filescomprising movies, videos, TV shows, music videos, music, or any otherdigital content that can be packaged and sold through operation of anautomated banking machine.

To reduce the possibility that wireless information may be interceptedby third parties, exemplary automated banking machines may be operativeto perform a secure handshaking protocol with each portable wirelessdevice. Such a protocol is operative to establish an encryptedcommunication channel for passing information between the bankingmachine and each portable wireless device. Such a protocol may be basedon a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol for example which includes theauthentication of digital certificates. Each automated banking machine,or a grouping of associated banking machines, may have their own digitalcertificates which can be independently authenticated by the portablewireless devices. Such digital certificates can provide the users of theportable wireless devices with assurances that the automated bankingmachine they are communicating with is a legitimate machine and not animposter device posing as an automated banking machine for purposes ofstealing account number information and identification values.

In exemplary embodiments the automated banking machine may be made in asmaller form factor by eliminating input and/or output devices such asthe display screen, keypads, and function keys found in conventionalATMs for example. For such embodiments, the portable wireless devicesmay include a client software application which provides a userinterface on the display device of the portable wireless device forinterfacing and performing transactions with the automated bankingmachine. For example, such a client application may be a downloadedplugin for a browser of the portable wireless device or may be a Java®application operative in a Java Virtual Machine of the portable wirelessdevice. Such a client may be based on HTML, WML or XML based documentsreceived from the machine. In other embodiments the client may be aservice that is integrated into the operating system or hardware of theportable wireless device.

The exemplary client may further include a data store which is operativeto store a log of transactions performed with the client. The client mayfurther be operative to export the log of transactions to a financialsoftware application such as Quicken® or Microsoft Money®. In otherexemplary embodiments the automated banking machine may further beoperative to communicate with portable wireless terminals of maintenanceusers. Such portable wireless devices may include client applicationswhich are operative to facilitate the servicing of the machine remotely.

The foregoing objects may be accomplished in one exemplary embodiment byan ATM that includes a network for attaching devices. This networkserves as the communication link between the ATM application softwareoperative in the main computer system of the ATM and the transactionfunction devices that comprise functional elements in the ATM. Examplesof such transaction function devices include cash dispensers, cashacceptors, card readers, depositories, and printers. However, anexemplary embodiment encompasses a new form of these transactionfunction devices called transaction services. Transaction services haveproperties of objects, similar to objects in object oriented programminglanguages such as C++ or Java®. Transaction services such as a printservice, accept method calls remotely across the network for performingsuch functions as printing text or delivering a printed receipt. Inaddition services can issue events remotely in other services. Forexample a printer service can invoke an event in an application programwhen the printer service is out of paper. ATM application programs canalso include elements of an object oriented service. In this way allcomponents whether hardware or software have properties of objects thatadhere to the same set of protocols. Thus the exemplary embodiment mayinclude an ATM that is created by assembling service objects.

In an exemplary embodiment Sun Microsystems JINI™ defines the low levelprotocols used to configure transaction services on an ATM network.However, exemplary embodiments also encompass other protocols such asMicrosoft Universal Plug and Play™ that are operative to allow servicesin an ATM to automatically configure themselves on an ATM network and tocommunicate with each other with object method calls and events.

In an exemplary embodiment, services include a computer processing unitand memory for running a Java® Virtual Machine (JVM). In addition,services include a nonvolatile data store such as a disk or NVRAM forstoring hardware-independent Java® software proxy objects. These Java®proxy objects replace prior art hardware-specific device drivers forcontrolling the physical hardware.

Prior art ATMs may have an application software program that operates tocause the display of a graphical user interface, that receives inputsfrom input devices such as keypads and that controls the operation ofthe transaction devices such as a sheet dispenser. In some exampleembodiments the application is itself a service. It interacts with otherservices such as a card reader service based on the JINI™ protocols. Theapplication service is operative to acquire one or more service proxyobjects for each service that must be controlled by the application.These service proxies originate from the individual services themselvesand are used by the application service to remotely control servicesacross the network. In this manner each service contains all thesoftware necessary to control its underlying hardware functions. Nolonger may there be a need for a service technician to install thecorrect drivers on the main computer of an ATM. Instead the correctservice proxies may be automatically updated from the service itself.

Upon connecting a new transaction service to a network in an ATM, theservice is operative to locate a special service on the ATM's networkcalled a lookup service. This lookup service is responsible forregistering each service on the network and storing a copy of eachservices' service proxy. This process of registering a new service onthe ATM network is defined by “discover” and “join” protocols. Afterregistration, other programs or services that need to communicate withor control the functionality of a particular type of transactionservice, contact the lookup service and download the appropriate serviceproxy. The service proxy in the exemplary embodiment is a Java® objectthat is run in the JVM of the calling service. This service proxydefines the methods and events necessary to communicate with a serviceacross the network.

Because each service contains its own service proxy, when an oldtransaction service such as a cash dispenser is replaced with a newmodel, the service proxy for the new model may be automaticallyinstalled and integrated in the ATM system. Consequently, the amount oftime needed to update an ATM with newer services and the chances ofinstalling incorrect drivers are reduced.

Because the example transaction services each contain their ownindividual JVM, they are also operative to load the service proxies ofother services which will enable them to communicate and control otherservices directly. This feature is useful for services that are designedto work in tandem. For example, in prior art ATMs the applicationprogram controls each device. However, devices do not control theapplication program. In some exemplary embodiments the application is aservice. As such it has service proxies for each transaction service ithas control over, such as a card reader service. However, because theapplication is also a service, the card reader may upload a proxy forthe application that allows card reader to issue methods for controllingthe application.

For example, when a debit or credit card is first inserted into a cardreader, the card reader can issue an application method using theapplication proxy to awaken the application service and pass attributesrepresentative of the numbers encoded on the card. Such service toservice communication is more efficient and easier to program thanhaving the application constantly monitor the card reader for cardinsertions as in prior art ATMs.

It is to be understood that services can be created that do not have theprocessing ability to run a JVM. For such services the protocols forconfiguring the service on the network may be programmed directly intothe firmware of the service.

Another feature of placing services on a network, is that services canbe attached to an ATM at greater distances. For example, rather thanplacing all the transaction services inside a single ATM enclosure,multiple groups of services can be configured on the same network. Forexample a bank could have one large private or virtual private networkwith multiple sets of ATM services located throughout a city. Each ofthe groups of services represents a single ATM workstation with anapplication service and multiple other transaction services. A specialhost service on the network could route banking transaction messagesbetween the multiple ATM workstations and an external host network.

An advantage of this example system, compared to the prior art is thateach service is an individually networked component, that can be easilyreplaced and updated dynamically. Further, each component of the ATM canbe remotely monitored, taken off line to troubleshoot withoutinterfering with other services in an ATM or other ATMs on the network.

Such dynamic connections may have the benefit of allowing ATMs toconnect to different types of services when needed. These on the flyconnections make possible an alternative embodiment of the Jini enabledATM in which the ATM is personal to an individual. This personal ATM canreside on any small portable computing device such as a notebookcomputer, cell phone, PDA, pager, or smart card. The personal nature ofthis example embodiment allows an individual to store a plurality oftheir personal banking account information in a data store of thepersonal ATM. This alleviates the need to insert a banking card into thepersonal ATM to activate it. Instead, the personal ATM may beinoperative until the personal password or other unique input of theowner of the personal ATM is entered and validated.

When a user of the example personal ATM desires to perform bankingtransactions, the user can connect the personal ATM to a network thatoffers the desired services. For example, if a user wishes to dispensecash, the personal ATM can be placed in operative connection with a Jinienabled host ATM that includes a cash dispenser service. The personalATM can discover and join with the host ATM and use a proxy to the cashdispenser service to dispense cash. The personal ATM may be operative toprompt the user to select an account from which to receive the money andthe amount desired. The information associated with the selected accountand the amount desired are sent to the cash dispenser service withmethod calls of the cash dispenser proxy. After validating the accountinformation, the cash dispenser will dispense the cash and have theselected account debited.

Such a personal ATM can dynamically connect with banking services of ahost ATM to deposit cash or checks and to transfer value betweenaccounts. In addition, the personal ATM can connect to other types ofdevices that accept value as payment. For example, the personal ATMcould connect with a Point of Sale (POS) service to transfer accountinformation for payment of a bill. The personal ATM may connect with adispenser service to pay for the dispense of items such as medication,snack foods, or any other item that dispensers and vending machines haveto offer. The personal ATM may be operative to dynamically connect withany additional service for transferring value from or to the service.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary wireless ATM apparatus usedin an exemplary system.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view representative of an exemplary wireless ATMsystem.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view representative of an alternative exemplarywireless ATM system.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view representative of a further alternativeexemplary wireless ATM system.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view representative of a further alternativeexemplary wireless ATM system.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an alternative exemplary ATM apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further alternative exemplary ATMapparatus.

FIG. 8 is a schematic view representative of an exemplary embodiment ofan automated banking machine and system that is operative to wirelesslydispense digital information to portable wireless devices.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view representative of an exemplary embodiment ofan automated transaction machine and system that is operative todispense digital sound recordings.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view representative of the distribution oftransaction fees from digital information dispensed by an ATM.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, there is showntherein a perspective view of an automated banking machine or ATM 10 ofone exemplary embodiment. The exemplary automated banking machine 10includes at least one output device such as a display device 12. Theoutput device 12 is operative to provide a consumer with a userinterface 18 that includes a plurality of selectable options foroperating the machine. The exemplary embodiment may further includeother types of output devices such as speakers, or any other type ofdevice that is capable of outputting visual, audible, or other sensoryperceptible information.

The exemplary automated transaction machine 10 includes a plurality ofinput devices such as function keys 14 and a keypad 16. The exemplaryembodiment may further include other types of input devices such asmicrophones or any other device that is operative to provide the machinewith inputs representative of consumer communication. The automatedbanking machine 10 further includes a plurality of transaction functiondevices such as a sheet or cash dispenser 20, depositor 22, receiptprinter 24, and card reader 26. The exemplary automated transactionmachine 10 further includes a wireless network interface 19 that isoperative to transmit and receive wireless information.

FIG. 2 is representative of an exemplary wireless ATM system 30. Thewireless ATM system 30 includes a plurality of wireless ATMs 32, 34, 36.Each of the wireless ATMs is operative to wirelessly communicate with awireless ATM server 38. In the described exemplary embodiment thewireless ATMs include a wireless network interface 41 such as an IEEE802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or 802.11n wireless network interfacecard. The wireless ATM server 40 is in operative connection with awireless access device such as a wireless access point or wireless hub40 which is operative to communicate with each of the wireless networkinterfaces of the wireless ATMs 32, 34, 36. The exemplary wireless ATMsand ATM server provide data security for wireless communications using awireless encryption protocol such as Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP),Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) and/or other wireless compatiblecryptographic authentication and communication protocol.

The exemplary wireless ATM server 38 is operative to communicate with atleast one remote host banking system 46 through at least one public orprivate network 44. The wireless ATM server 38 is operative to routetransaction and event messages between the host banking system 46 andeach of the ATMs 32, 34, 36. In one exemplary embodiment the wirelessATM server 38 includes a Message Gateway Router 43 (MGR) or otherfunctionally comparable apparatus which is operative to receive,transform and forward messages between a plurality of ATMs and hostbanking systems. An example of an MGR is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.6,039,245 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Inaddition the exemplary wireless ATM server 38 further includes afirewall 42. The firewall 42 is operative to prevent unauthorizedcommunications with the wireless ATMs 32, 34, 36. The firewall isfurther operative to prevent unauthorized communication with the system30 from a rogue wireless device within range of the wireless accesspoint 40. The firewall is also operative to prevent unauthorized accessto the system from external devices communicating through the network44.

FIG. 3 is representative of an alternative wireless ATM system 60. Hereeach of the ATMs 62, 64, 66 includes a wireless network interface device68 such as a digital cellular or mobile phone based network interfacecard which is operative to communicate with a digital cellular network72. In this described exemplary system 60 the host banking system 70 isaccessed by the ATMs through the digital cellular network 72, ratherthan calling a host banking system through a land line based network ortelephone connection. Examples of cellular networks that may be usedinclude digital cellular based networks such as GSM CDMA, CDPD, or TDMA.Exemplary embodiments may also use the WAP when making calls to the hostbanking system through a digital cellular network. Communication betweenthe ATM and the host banking system may also be encrypted using anencryption protocol such as Wireless Transport Level Security (WTLS) andSecure Sockets Layer (SSL).

FIG. 4 is representative of an alternative wireless ATM system 80. Herethe system includes an Internet Service Provider (ISP) ATM 82. Theexemplary ISP ATM 82 includes transaction function devices 102 such as acash dispenser, depositor, sheet dispenser, and card reader. In additionthe exemplary ISP ATM 82 is in operative connection with and/or mayinclude therein a wireless access device such as a wireless access pointor wireless hub 84. The wireless access point is operative to enable theISP ATM 82 to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of portablewireless devices within range of the wireless access point 84. Examplesof portable wireless devices include notebook computers 86, personaldigital assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones 90 or other devices whichare capable of providing voice communication and/or data communication.In the exemplary embodiment the portable wireless devices include anIEEE 802.11a,b,g and/or n compatible network interface which isoperative to communicate with the wireless access point 84 of the ISPATM 82. However, alternative exemplary embodiments of the system 80 mayuse any other wireless network interfaces and systems between theportable wireless devices and the ATM, including for example generallyshort range RF communication such as Bluetooth™ and IR based systems.Exemplary embodiments may also use a transport protocol such as WAP.

The exemplary ISP ATM 82 further includes an external network interface92 that is operative to connect the ISP ATM 82 with a public wide areanetwork such as the Internet 94. In one exemplary embodiment theexternal network interface 92 includes a high speed network connectionsuch as ISDN, ADSL, DSL, Cable Modem, T1, Fractional T1, or Frame Relay.The network interface (92) may also be a wireless interface may asdiscussed previously. In this described embodiment of the exemplarysystem 80, the ISP ATM 82 is operative to provide the portable wirelessdevices 86, 88, and 90 with access to the Internet 94. The exemplary ISPATM 82 is operative to provide such access for a fee which may becharged to an account associated with a portable wireless device.

The exemplary ISP ATM 82 includes a toll access server softwarecomponent 96 which is operative to individually provide portablewireless devices with access to the Internet. When a portable wirelessdevice logs onto the ISP ATM 82 for the first time, the toll accessserver 96 is operative to receive identifying information from theportable wireless device. In one exemplary embodiment the identifyinginformation may include a user ID and password. In other embodimentsother identifying values or combinations of values may be used, forexample biometric inputs, digital certificates or other indicia usableto identify a user and/or a portable wireless device.

The exemplary toll access server is operative to validate theidentifying information by comparison of the user ID and password to alocal or remote database 98 of authorized users. Once access isprovided, the toll access server is further operative to store a log ofparameter information such as the source of data, amount of time and/oramount of transferred data that is used by the portable wireless device.Such a log may be used to calculate a fee for the Internet access whichis billed to the user of the portable wireless device.

In an exemplary embodiment, the toll access server may acceptidentifying information from a portable wireless device which is in theform of a financial account such as a credit, debit, checking or savingsaccount. If the account is associated with a password such as a PersonalIdentification Number (PIN), the toll access server may further requirethe portable wireless device to provide a PIN along with the accountinformation. The exemplary ISP ATM 82 is operative to charge an accessfee directly to the provided account. Such a fee may be based on theamount of time or data usage of the user. The fee may also be based on aone time access fee for unlimited usage for a certain period of time.The exemplary toll access server 96 is further operative to have the ISPATM 82 authorize and charge the account through communication with ahost banking system 100. In alternative embodiments the portablewireless device or a smart card or other memory device associatedtherewith may include data representative of monetary value, which maybe modified through communication with the ATM to pay charges associatedwith network usage and/or transactions carried out with the ATM such asdispensing cash.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an exemplary ISPATM 82 may be located in a publicly accessible location. Such locationsmay for example include airport terminals, libraries, restaurants,shopping malls, or any other private or public area with a population ofusers that requires both access to the Internet and access totransaction functions such as cash dispensing.

FIG. 5 is representative of a further exemplary wireless ATM system 120.Here the system 120 includes a wireless enabled ATM 122. The exemplaryATM 122 is in operative connection with a wireless access point orwireless hub 124. A plurality of portable wireless devices 136, 138 and140 are operative to wirelessly communicate with the wireless accesspoint 124 of the ATM 122. The wireless communication may be based on anywireless system 139 that is operative to securely transport informationbetween the portable wireless devices and the ATM, including IEEE802.11, Bluetooth™ or any other RF or IR based wireless system. Thedescribed exemplary embodiment may also use a transport protocol such asWAP. The ATM 122 further includes a firewall 126 that is operative toreduce the risk of unauthorized communications passing between theportable wireless devices 136, 138, 140 or other devices and the ATM122.

In addition the exemplary ATM 122 further includes a terminal interfaceserver application 128. The exemplary terminal interface server 128 isoperative to provide each of the plurality of portable wireless deviceswith an individual interface to the ATM 128 for performing transactions.In one exemplary embodiment the exemplary terminal interface server 128is operative to output HTML, WML, XML or other mark up language baseddocuments for each portable wireless device. Portable wireless deviceswith an HTML, WML or XML based browser are operative responsive toreceipt of the documents to display a plurality of interface screens.The exemplary interface screens include a plurality of selectableoptions that are representative of transaction functions that may beperformed with the ATM 122.

The exemplary terminal interface server is operative to provide eachportable wireless device with its own individual and separate accesssession. As a result each portable wireless device may simultaneouslyperform transactions with the ATM 122. For example a first portablewireless device 128 may initiate a balance inquiry with the ATM 122while a second portable wireless device 126 is operative to initiate atransfer of funds between two accounts using the ATM 122. The exemplaryterminal interface server 128 is operative to separately maintain aplurality of individual sets of transaction states for each portablewireless device session.

In further exemplary embodiments the portable wireless devices mayinclude a terminal client application 142 that is specificallyprogrammed to log onto the ATM 122 and provide the portable wirelessdevice with an interface for performing transactions with the ATM 122.In an exemplary embodiment the terminal client application 142 may be ahardware independent program such as a Java® applet that is operative torun in a Java Virtual Machine® of the portable wireless device 136. Inanother exemplary embodiment the terminal client application may be ahardware specific application which is targeted to the specificoperating system and/or hardware platform of the portable wirelessdevice 136.

In an exemplary embodiment the exemplary terminal client application isrequired to be installed on the portable wireless devices prior toenabling the terminal client to initially log onto the ATM 122. However,in an alternative exemplary embodiment the portable wireless devices maybe operative to perform a handshaking protocol with the ATM 122 wheninitially logging onto the ATM. Such a handshaking protocol may providethe portable wireless devices with the initial information and/orterminal client application software which is necessary to performtransactions with the ATM 122. Examples of handshaking protocols whichmay be used to connect portable wireless devices to an ATM are shown inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/505,594 which is owned by theassignee of the present invention incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

The described exemplary system 120 is further operative to enable two ormore portable wireless devices to initiate transactions which requireuse of the same physical transaction function devices 130 of the ATM.For example, two portable wireless devices may initiate the withdrawalof cash from the ATM 122 at about the same time. When this occurs, theexemplary terminal interface server is operative to contemporaneouslyauthorize each separate withdrawal transaction through communicationwith a host banking system 132. However, because it may be undesirableto dispense both sets of withdrawals in one group or stack of currencysheets, the exemplary terminal interface server is operative tosequentially prompt each user to step forward before dispensing awithdrawal of currency to a user.

When a prompted user is adjacent the cash dispenser of the ATM 122, theuser may then select an option such as by providing one or more inputsthrough one or more input devices 141 on his/her portable wirelessdevice which causes the ATM 122 to dispense the cash. Alternatively, theuser may be prompted to provide one or more inputs or one or moreidentification values through one or more input devices on the ATM so asto cause the cash to be dispensed. This described exemplary procedurefor prompting a user to sequentially move adjacent to the bankingmachine may also be applied to other transaction function devices of theATM 122 such as a check depository, sheet dispenser, or any otherphysical transaction device which may be needed by multiple users. TheATM may also operate in such circumstances to capture data from a useror an associated article for purposes of verifying or documenting thetransaction. For example the ATM may capture biometric data such as aface scan or an iris scan to verify the identity of the personconducting the transaction. The ATM may also capture features ofdeposited currency, checks or other instruments for correlatinginformation concerning users and deposited items.

In addition to enabling multiple users to wirelessly performtransactions with the ATM 122, the exemplary ATM 122 may further beoperative to enable a portable wireless device of a servicer of the ATMto wirelessly perform maintenance operations on the ATM 122. Theexemplary terminal interface server 128 may be operative to provide aportable wireless device of a servicer with a set of HTML, WML or XML orother mark up language based documents which provide selectable optionsfor checking error logs, troubleshooting, and performing service ormaintenance related tasks with the ATM 122. In alternative exemplaryembodiments of the system 120 the portable wireless device of a servicermay include a dedicated service client application which is operative towirelessly perform maintenance tasks with the ATM 122.

In the described exemplary embodiment of the wireless system 120, theinteractive interface for operating the ATM 122 is created on theportable wireless devices 136, 138, and 140. As a result, exemplaryforms of the ATM 122 may be produced in a smaller form factor which doesnot include one or more of a display monitor, keypad, and/or functionkeys. An example of such a displayless and keypadless ATM is shown inFIG. 6. Here the ATM 150 includes a publicly accessible fascia 152, andwhich ATM includes one or more transaction function devices such as acash dispenser 154. The exemplary ATM 150 further includes a wirelessaccess point 156 which may enable a plurality of portable wirelessdevices to access the ATM simultaneously. The exemplary fascia 152 ofthe ATM 150, however, does not include a large display device such as aCRT or LCD based monitor. As a result the ATM 150 may be placed insmaller spaces with limited room for an ATM opening. In addition the ATM150 may be manufactured at a lower cost due to the elimination of partsassociated with the display, keypad, and/or function keys.

FIG. 7 shows an alternative exemplary embodiment of an ATM 160 thatincludes a plurality of transaction functions devices of the same type.Here the exemplary ATM 160 includes a plurality of cash dispenseroutlets 161-164. It should be understood that in some embodiments thatATM may comprise multiple complete cash dispenser mechanisms and inothers a single cash dispenser mechanism may deliver bills totransaction function devices such as presenters that deliver bills fromthe ATM through an outlet. The exemplary ATM 160 includes a wirelessaccess point 170 which may be operative to enable a plurality ofportable wireless devices to access the ATM 170 simultaneously. Each ofthe cash dispenser outlets is spaced apart along the fascia 172 of theATM 160 such that different individual users may be able to standadjacent different cash dispenser outlets simultaneously.

The exemplary ATM 160 further includes a plurality of identifyingdevices 181-184 which are each in association with a transactionfunction device 161-164. Such identifying devices are operative toreceive one or more identification values that can be used to determinean identity of the user and/or the user's portable wireless device orother article that is adjacent a cash dispenser outlet or othertransaction function device. By correlating the determined identity ofthe adjacent user and/or the user's portable device or other article tothe portable device performing a transaction, the exemplary ATM 160 isoperative to have each transaction function device perform the propertransaction function for the corresponding adjacent user.

In one exemplary embodiment the identifying devices 181-184 may includea biometric reader device such as a fingerprint scanner. When a wirelesstransaction has been authorized, the exemplary ATM 160 may be operativeto communicate one or more messages to cause the portable wirelessdevice to prompt the user to step adjacent any available transactionfunction device 161-164 and press a corresponding fingerprint scannersurface. The exemplary ATM 160 includes a computer that is operative toscan the fingerprint and correlate the fingerprint scan to thetransaction. This may be done by correlating the one or more identifyingvalues associated with the fingerprint scan to values in a data store.This may be for example a remote data store which includes data whichenables correlation of identification values with particular users,accounts or other identifying data. Alternatively, a data store includedin the portable wireless device or on another item associated with auser or their account such as a smart card, may include one or moreidentification values which can be used to verify that theidentification data from the fingerprint scan corresponds to theauthorized user of the portable wireless device, smart card or otheritem. Once a fingerprint scan has been correlated to a transaction, theATM 160 is operative to operate the transaction function device that isadjacent the user to complete the transaction. In alternativeembodiments other types of biometric devices may be used, for example aface or voice recognition system, or an iris or retina scan device. Inaddition alternative exemplary embodiments may use other forms ofidentifying devices or identifying values or combinations thereof suchas a bar code scanner, card reader, IR-sensor, digital certificate,password, PIN or any other device or method which is operative toprovide identifying information from a user or an object in the user'spossession which can be used to determine that a transaction or user isauthorized.

In alternative embodiments the automated banking machine may establishwireless communication with the portable device. The user through theportable device may communicate one or more wireless messages with thebanking machine indicating the type and amount of one or moretransactions the user wishes to conduct. The banking machine may thencommunicate with a remote host system to determine if the requestedtransaction is authorized. The banking machine may then advise the userthrough a wireless message to the portable device from the bankingmachine that the transaction is authorized and can be conducted when theuser wishes for the transaction to proceed. The user may be notified ofthe status through output devices 143 on the portable device. The userthen may provide one or more further inputs so as to commit to thetransaction, which causes a message from the portable device to thebanking machine. Such commitment messages may be generated when the useris adjacent to the banking machine and may cause the machine to carryout the requested transaction function in response thereto.Alternatively, the user may commit to the transaction and thereafter berequired to provide one or more inputs to either the portable deviceand/or input devices on the banking machine to carry out the transactionfunction and complete the transaction. Such approaches may providegreater assurance that the authorized user is in position to receivecash from the machine (or otherwise receive from or provide to themachine transaction items associated with the transaction). This enablesusers to minimize the time spent at the banking machine. Of course suchapproaches are exemplary and in other embodiments other approaches maybe used.

In an exemplary embodiment, an automated banking machine may further beoperative to enable a plurality of portable wireless devices towirelessly communicate with the machine to search and purchase digitalinformation or content previously stored on the ATM. The purchaseddigital information may then be communicated wirelessly from the ATM tothe one or more wireless devices. In an exemplary embodiment digitalinformation may be purchased and communicated to one or more portablewireless devices through operation of the ATM while a user is operatingthe machine to carry out a banking function such as dispensing cash.

An example of an automated banking machine such as an ATM 210 that isoperative to dispense digital information to portable wireless devicesand other devices is shown in FIG. 8. Here the ATM 210 includes at leastone computer processor 212 that is operatively programmed to enable theATM to perform at least one banking transaction such as the dispense ofcash. The computer processor 212 is also operatively programmed toenable the ATM to dispense digital content which is alternativelyreferred to herein as digital information. To perform these functionsthe ATM further includes in operative connection with the computerprocessor 212, at least one data store 213, a display device 214, atleast one input device 216, at least one output device 218, a cardreader 220 which also serves as an input device, and a cash dispenser224. The ATM 210 is further operative to communicate with at least onefinancial transaction processing computer which is operative to carryout financial transfers which in this example is host banking system230. ATM 210 also is enabled to communicate with at least one digitalinformation source 232. In the exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention the ATM 210 is operative to download digital information fromthe digital information source 232 through a network 34 such as theInternet.

It should be understood that the ATM 210 and system are exemplary and inother embodiments automated transaction machines may include other oradditional devices and may operate in other types of systems. Forexample, embodiments of the present invention may include in operativeconnection with the computer processor 212, a currency acceptor 222, adata store including a storage device drive 226, and a communicationport 228 which serves as an output device. The storage device drive 226serves as a local data store and enables the computer processor todispense digital information to a portable storage medium 236. Thecommunication port 228 enables the computer processor to cause thedispense of digital information to a portable computing device 238.

FIG. 9 schematically shows an exemplary embodiment of the ATM 210 thatis operative to dispense both cash and digital content comprising soundrecordings such as music and songs and/or video recordings such asmovies and TV shows. However, it is to be understood that exemplaryembodiments may also encompasses the dispensing of other types ofdigital information including digital representations of images, books,software, audiovisual works, cartoons, magazines, newspapers, games,compilations, databases and other types of digital content that may bedelivered in a digital format.

Exemplary ATM 210 includes a display device 214 such as a CRT monitor orLCD display. The display device is operative responsive to the processorto output user interface indicia 246. The user interface indicia mayinclude instructional outputs for operating the ATM as well as contentindicia which are representative of the portions of digital informationthat may be dispensed from the ATM for a fee. In some embodiments thecontent indicia may include listings of songs, movies, books or otherportions of the digital content which a user may select to havedelivered. Exemplary embodiments may also include graphicalrepresentations regarding the information, such as pictures of theartist or CD liner in the case of music files. Audio and/or visualoutputs may also be provided to identify, and in some cases enable theuser to sample the available information.

Exemplary ATM 210 also includes at least one input device 216 such as akeypad, touch screen, and/or selection buttons. The input device(s)enable the user to enter operation inputs such as a personal informationnumber (PIN) corresponding to an account, an amount of cash to withdraw,or a selection of a particular digital sound recording or other portionof the digital content to dispense. Although this described embodimentincludes function keys, a touch screen and/or a keypad, alternativeembodiments of the present invention may use other or additional typesof input devices for entering information, such as a speech recognitionsystem, or a track ball.

ATM 10 also includes a cash dispenser 224 and a card reader 220. Thecard reader 220 is operative to read indicia corresponding to accountinformation from a user's card. The card may be a bank card, creditcard, debit card, gas card, merchant card, smart card, or other mediumthat is operative to store account data and/or other information whichmay be used to identify a user or their accounts. In other embodimentsthe ATM may include a biometric type reading device which may identifythe user by a characteristic thereof. Such biometric reading devices mayinclude for example a fingerprint reader, iris scanner, retina scanner,voice recognition device, facial recognition reader or other device. Theexemplary ATM 210 is operative to dispense a selected amount of cash tothe user from the cash dispenser 224, and to debit the account of theuser through communication with a financial transaction computer such asa host banking system. The exemplary ATM 210 is also operative to debituser fees from the account for dispensing digital information from theATM as well.

In an exemplary embodiments, the ATM may also include at least onecurrency accepting device 222. For users who do not wish to use anaccount to pay for the dispense of digital information, the ATM isoperative to receive the user fees in the form of cash such as billsand/or coin, using the currency accepting device 222.

In an exemplary embodiment, the digital information dispensed by the ATM210 may includes digital sound recording files 244. Examples of digitalsound recording files include MP3 files, AAC files, and WMA files.Typically each file corresponds to an individual music selection orsong. However, sound files may correspond to any collection of sounds ofany type and length. Other examples of sound recording files includecompilations of songs such as are found on music CDs and spoken textualmaterial corresponding to news articles, stories, speeches and books.

In an exemplary embodiment, the digital information dispensed by the ATM210 may includes digital video files 245. Examples of digital videofiles include MPEG files, MPEG-4 files, DIVX files, WMV files, and Flashfiles. Typically each file corresponds to an individual audio-visualselection such as a movie, TV show and animation. However, video filesmay correspond to any collection of videos of any type and length. Forexample, video files may include compilations of TV shows or otheraudio-visual works.

In the exemplary embodiment, the ATM 210 acquires sound and/or videofiles to dispense from at least one remote digital information source232. The source 232 may include a web site or FTP site on the Internet,or other servers in a public or private network. The exemplary ATM 210is operative to periodically download a plurality of sound or videofiles that match certain customizable programmed criteria. The ATM mayalso download corresponding graphics associated with the sound and/orvideo files. These downloaded files are stored locally at the ATM in alocal content data store 213 such as a hard drive. The ATM 210 isoperative to display or output graphical, textual and/or audio contentindicia representative of these sound and/or video files with thedisplay device 214. A user of the ATM 210 may then provide one or moreinputs to select and/or dispense one or more of these sound and/or videofiles.

The ATM may be programmably configured with different types ofdownloading criteria. For example, if the ATM is located in a danceclub, the downloading criteria may be configured to have the ATMperiodically download the sound and/or video files that correspond tothe top one hundred most popular dance songs or music videos for themonth. If the ATM is located in a book store, the ATM may be configuredto periodically download sound files representative of the best-sellingbooks and/or best selling movies for the month.

In the exemplary embodiment if the data store 213 does not have alreadystored therein the sound file or video file that a user desires, theexemplary ATM is further operative to have the user enter a selectioninput corresponding to the desired sound file or video file such as atitle or the name of an artist or group. The ATM may then be operativeto query one or more remote content data stores for the requested soundand/or video file(s). A message is returned to the ATM which isoperative to cause the processor to generate a listing of matching soundand/or video files which is displayed on the display device 214 of theATM 210. In a response to one or more dispense inputs from the customer,and for a fee, the ATM 210 is then operative to download and dispenseone or more of the matching sound and/or video files from an outputdevice.

In embodiments of the invention in which a network connection such as anInternet connection is not available or is not always used, the ATM maybe operative to acquire sound files and/or video from portable storagemediums such as portable hard drives, flash memory device, CDs, DVDs.For example, sound files may be copied or ripped from the CD and savedlocally to the data store 213 in the machine.

The exemplary ATM may be operative to dispense digital information in aplurality of different ways depending on the type of digitalinformation. For example the ATM described in connection with FIG. 9further includes an output device 218 that includes a sound system 260.The sound system 260 includes a sound signal amplifier 240 with aplurality of speakers 242. The ATM 210 is operative to output though thesound system 260, analog or digital signals that correspond to selecteddigital sound recording files. The signal amplifier 240 is operative tooutput sound through the speakers 242 that corresponds to the sound filesignals. Such an ATM may then function as a fee-based digital musicplayer or jukebox. For restaurants, bars, and other facilities thatoffer music, the exemplary embodiment of the present invention offersthe ability to generate user fees for both the dispensing of cash andthe dispensing of audible music.

For other forms of digital information that is visual, such as text,documents, images or video for example, the ATM may be operative tooutput such digital content either through the display device 214 of theATM 210 or through an output device 218 that includes a video system 262or a printing system 264. A video system may include one or moremonitors, TVs, speakers, LCD displays, or projection TV. The embodimentsof the present invention may include multiple output devices foroutputting multiple forms of digital information concurrently. Aprinting system 264 may include a monochrome or color printer capable ofoutputting documents and/or photo quality prints of images or othergraphics.

If multiple sound files or other forms of digital information have beenselected for output through the output device, the exemplary embodimentmay be operative to sequentially output each song either in the orderthe digital information was selected, or in other orders, includingalphabetical by title of song, artist, album, style, or in a randomorder.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention may also dispensedigital information such as sound files, to other storage mediums. Forexample the ATM 210 may include a storage device drive 226 such as aCD/DVD writer which is operative to accept a portable storage medium 236such as a write-once or rewriteable CD/DVD. For a fee the ATM may beprogrammed to dispense the sound file by writing a copy of the soundfile on a user supplied CD/DVD. Alternatively, the ATM may include asupply of blank CDs/DVDs or other media, and may copy the file onto themedia and deliver it to the user. Examples of other types of storagedevice drives that are operative for use with embodiments of the presentinvention may include flash memory drives for writing to flash memorydevices such as CompactFlash, SD cards and Sony Memory Stick®.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention may dispense digitalinformation such as sound and video files, through an output devicewhich includes a communication port 18 directly to a portable computingdevice. Examples of suitable communication ports 218 include a UniversalSerial Bus (USB) port, a serial RS-232 port, parallel port, an infrared(IR) port, a radio frequency (RF) port such as Bluetooth, an IEEE-1394port, a network port such as a wired or wireless Ethernet connection(e.g., IEEE 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, and/or 802.11n), and/or any othertype of port capable of outputting digital information to a portablewired and/or wireless device. When a portable computing device such asan Apple Video Ipod® is connected to the port 218, the ATM may beoperative for a fee to download sound files and/or video files to theportable computing device. Examples of other types of portable computingdevices that may receive dispensed digital information such as soundand/or video files include a portable computer such as a notebookcomputer, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable video player,and a mobile phone.

Alternative exemplary embodiments may be operative to dispense digitalinformation to a user through the Internet by e-mail or FTP for example.In such embodiments the user may select the information through inputsto the ATM 210. The ATM would prompt the user to input through at leastone input device an e-mail, FTP or other network delivery address. TheATM would then be operative through an output device such as a suitablenetwork interface, to e-mail or FTP the selected digital information tothe user, rather than dispensing the digital information through outputdevices, to a portable storage medium or to a computing device adjacentthe ATM. Alternatively the ATM may send one or more messages through oneor more networks to a remote computer, which messages cause the remotecomputer to send the selected digital content to the network address.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic view representative of accounts that areaccessed by the exemplary ATM 210 for distributing user fees. Becausethe ATM 210 is in operative connection with a host banking system, ATM210 is enabled to deduct a user fee from an account of the user inexchange for the dispense of digital information. The exemplaryembodiment of the ATM 210 operates by reading an account number from acard inserted by a user into the card reader 220. The account numberincludes data representative of the institution where the user's accountis held. Examples of cards that are operative for use with someembodiments of the present invention include credit cards, bank cards,debit cards, merchant cards, smart cards, or any other portable mediumthat can store account or user information and/or data representative ofstored value. The exemplary ATM 210 is operative to communicate with afinancial transaction computer which includes or which can communicatewith, a host banking system which can validate a user inputted PIN andauthorize a transaction requested by the user at the ATM. If the PIN isvalid and the transaction authorized, the message(s) sent by ATM 210 isfurther operative to cause the host banking system to debit user feesfrom the user's account corresponding to the requested dispense of cashand/or the requested dispense of digital information. Transaction feesor other charges for the convenience of using the machine may also becharged to the user's account. Alternatively as previously discussed,embodiments of the present invention may identify users by biometricinformation. The biometric data from the user may then be used by alocal or remote computer to identify the user and/or their associatedaccount information.

The dispensing of most digital information is limited by the copyrightowner. Typically the copyright owner requires a fee or royalty to copy,display, publicly perform or otherwise deliver the work. The amount ofthe fee may vary depending on how the work is authorized to be used. Forexample if the work is a sound recording, the fee to play the sound fileone time in a restaurant may be much less than the fee to dispense thesound file to a portable storage medium which may be duplicated anunlimited number of times. Consequently, an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention is operative to track how digital information isdispensed and to transfer corresponding licensing fees to a licensingentity, a digital information source and/or other entities authorized toreceive payment. Likewise stored information concerning the nature,location, size, contract status or other information concerning theestablishment in which the particular ATM is located may be used todetermine the fee. For example the fee to play a music file in a smallrestaurant may be less than in a large dance club. Similar principlesmay be applied to charging for other types of audio files, documents,images, videos, audiovisual files and pay-per-view type events.

The exemplary ATM 210 may be operative to debit a user fee from theuser's account 250 for each dispense of digital information. The userfees may be transferred to a common banking account 254 of the operatorof the ATM 210. Transfers of user fees may occur either immediately witheach dispense and/or may occur periodically with the ATM 210transferring data concerning multiple charges made to credit cards ofvarious users to a financial transaction computer, such as a settlementhost for example, which is operative to credit and debit accounts of theappropriate entities.

Licensing fees for downloading digital information from a digitalinformation source may be transferred in a similar manner. The ATM 210may generate messages or may include data in messages operative to causea financial transaction computer to transfer a licensing fee from theaccount 254 that corresponds to the operator of the ATM 210, to anaccount of the digital information source 232. Such a transfer may beperformed through the host banking system or through another transactionswitch or through interaction of one or more financial transactioncomputers. Such transfers may occur with each download or may occurperiodically for a batch of downloads which have occurred during a priortime period.

In an alternative embodiment, the ATM 210 is configured with inputswhich include a terminal identifying UserID and a password for use whenconnecting through one or more networks to the digital informationsource 232. The UserID and password enable the ATM 210 to access thedigital information source 232 and to download digital information. Thedigital information source 232 monitors all downloads that correspond tothe UserID and periodically charges the account 254 that corresponds tothe operator of the ATM. Alternatively for some types of digitalinformation, the charge may be assessed against an account of theestablishment where the ATM is located or an account of the operator ofthe establishment. This may be appropriate in cases where the useassociated with the digital information, as indicated by the transactionmessages received from the ATM and/or based on stored data, is a publicdisplay or performance of the work in the establishment. Of course otherapproaches may be used.

Once digital information has been downloaded to the data store 213 ofthe ATM 210, the copyright owner of the digital information may requirethat a licensing fee be paid with each dispense of the digitalinformation to a user or upon each public display or performance. TheATM 210 or other connected computer is operative to keep records of eachdispense of digital content and the character of dispense that is made.The exemplary ATM is further operative to transfer licensing feesassociated with each dispense to an account of the digital informationsource 232 or another licensing entity 252 through the financialtransaction computer. This transfer may be done with each dispense orperiodically for a batch of dispenses.

In an alternative embodiment, the ATM 210 may be operative to transferdispense records to the digital information source or the licensingentity through the Internet or other network. The digital informationsource 232 or licensing entity 252 may then debit or charge thelicensing fees from an account that corresponds to the user, theoperator of the ATM, the operator of the establishment or otherappropriate entity.

For digital information that includes copy protection features or othertechnological measure to limit reproduction, access or use of thecopyrighted work, the ATM 210 may be further operative to configure orincorporate the protection features and charge a user fee thatcorresponds to the copy or other protection features which are included.For example ATM 210 may be enabled to have the user select licensingfeatures of a song file such as unlimited or restricted duplication,expiration dates, or other features of the sound file that affect thereproduction or use of the sound file. For example, the protectionfeatures used in some embodiments of the invention may restrictreproduction of the digital content so that it may only be played in theportable computing device to which it is initially delivered. Otherfeatures may restrict reproduction by preventing the digital contentfrom being transferred from or otherwise reproduced in digital form fromthe media or device on which it is initially delivered. Other featuresmay restrict reproduction by limiting the use of the digital content toa particular time period or to a particular number of plays. Of courseadditional or alternative approaches may be used depending on the systemand the digital content involved. The ATM 210 may be operative to chargethe user a corresponding user fee based on the type of protectionfeatures selected. The ATM may also be operative to cause thecorresponding licensing or other fee to be paid to the source of thedigital information or a licensing entity.

Alternative embodiments of the present invention may be used inconnection with systems which include stored information concerningparticular users. Such systems may be used to correlate the identity ofthe user with marketing or customer preference data. Such informationmay include particular categories of music, videos, books or othermaterials or products that can be provided and/or that are of interestto the particular user. The ATM may operate to automatically give theuser options for selections tailored to their associated preferenceinformation. Alternatively such information may be used to automaticallyprovide the user with digital files, visual or audio outputs or otheroutputs whenever the user operates an ATM connected to the system. Forexample when the ATM is operated as a jukebox, the ATM may operate toautomatically display indicia corresponding to favorite artists orsongs, or to output one or more of the user's favorite songs.

In certain embodiments of the invention it may not be desirable for auser to access their financial account each time a relatively smallcharge for digital information is assessed to the user. In such systemsthe system may be configured so that the user is required to make a“minimum purchase.” This amount may be a charge reasonably sufficient tooffset the costs of accessing the account, for example $10 or $20. Thisamount would then be credited to a content prepay account associatedwith the user. A prepay account record indicating a credit associatedwith the user or their account would then be stored in one or more datastores. This credit information may be stored locally on a smart card orother item, at the ATM or remotely in a computer such as a financialtransaction computer which can be accessed from the ATM. For example insome embodiments the amount may be credited to a licensing or otherorganization. Alternatively, a financial transaction computer may debitthe prepay account of the user as it is used and route payments to theappropriate entities. The amount of value associated with the prepayaccount may then be reduced each time the user receives a delivery ofdigital content until the account is exhausted. Such a system may beadvantageously used where the fees involved in each digital filetransaction are small, such as the cost or playing sound files. Such asystem also provides the system operator, licensing entity, or otherentity the benefit of the “float” on the allocated funds.

To discourage or limit the unauthorized reproduction of digitalinformation that may be dispensed, exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention may be operatively programmed to modify features of thedigital information before it is delivered for reproduction on aportable medium and computing device. For example portable computingdevices may have Digital Rights Management Features (DRM) which limitcopying and playing of the files. An exemplary embodiment is operativeto communicate a purchased audio or digital file or other digitalinformation file that includes DRM features which couple the file to thedevice and/or an account associated with the device. Such DRM featuresmay include encryption of the file in a manner which enables only thedevice and/or authorized devices associated with a common account toplay the file. Examples of video and audio files provided by the ATMwhich may include DRM features include AAC files, WMA, files, MP4 files,and WMV files.

In an exemplary embodiment, the processor in the ATM may embed orinclude a digital code, signature and/or certificate in/with the soundand/or video file that is reproduced on the user's portable digitalsound player or other personal computing device. Such a certificate mayfurther include an encrypted digital signature or other encrypted datathat can be used to detect unauthorized alterations of the file and/orbe used to enforce the digital rights management features associatedwith the file. Alternatively, the processor on the ATM may cryptographymodify the sound and video data in the file to be coupled with an ID,code, or certificate associated with the portable computing device. Theportable computing device would only be operative to play the soundand/or video file if the unique code, ID, or certificate associated withthe portable sound and/or video player corresponds to encryptedinformation included in the sound/or video file.

Such features would limit playback of the file to the user's personalcomputing device. The sound and/or video file would be inoperative onanother personal computing device that is associated with a differentcertificate, ID or code. Of course the same principles may be used withfiles that are downloaded to the ATM itself for storage in the localdata store, when the files are only to be played through use of the ATMand not transferred to other devices.

In alternative embodiments the ATM may be operatively programmed to havethe user register with a licensing entity for the digital content priorto dispensing digital content for the first time. During theregistration process the user would be associated with a unique licensecode that may also be used when purchasing digital content in thefuture. The ATM may then be operative to encrypt the file in a mannerthat cryptographically associates the file with the license code for theuser.

The license code may be manually input with the input device 216, readfrom a card with the card reader device 224, downloaded from the user'sportable computing device 238, retrieved from another source and/orcorrelated with other data concerning the user. In an exemplaryembodiment, the ATM may also be operative to validate the license codeby communicating with the licensing entity. If the license code is validand/or is in good standing, the ATM would be operative to dispenseadditional digital information coupled to the license code of the user.Such a unique license code may be generated by the licensingorganization, or may correspond to the previously described digital codeor certificate associated with the user's computing device.

These described methods of copy and/or use protection of the dispenseddigital information may be further associated with a subscriptionservice or club. For example during the previously describedregistration process the ATM may prompt the user to sign up for adigital information service that for a monthly fee enables the user todispense a certain amount and/or type of digital information. Forexample the service may correspond to the dispensing of music files ordigital book text files. Each month the user would be entitled todispense a certain amount or an unlimited amount of these files from theATM for a discount club rate fee or for no additional fee per dispensetransaction.

When the user first signs up for the service, the ATM may be furtheroperative to enable the user to associate payment of the service or clubfees to an account of the user for automatic debit of the monthly clubdues or dispense fees from the user's account. Such automatic paymentinformation may be acquired by reading account information from a user'scredit card or banking card with the card reader device 220 of the ATM.

For exemplary embodiments in which the ATM enables one more portablewireless devices to wirelessly interface with the ATM to purchases audioor video files (or perform other transactions), the devices may includesoftware which is operative to authenticate that the ATM is a valid andtrustworthy source of such content. For example, the portable wirelessdevice may include a digital certificate of a certificate authorityand/or a public key of certificate authority which is consideredtrustworthy. ATMs operative to wirelessly dispense digital informationto portable wireless devices may include certificates signed by thetrusted certificate authority. The portable wireless devices may beoperative to undergo a handshaking operation (e.g. SSL, TLS, WAP) toauthenticate the ATM and establish an encrypted communication channelbefore the device wirelessly sends financial account information orother private information to the ATM.

In a further exemplary embodiment, the ATM may serve as a wirelessgateway to a remote music and/or video service. The portable wirelessdevice may purchase (or otherwise select) digital content by interactingwith the remote service through wireless communication with the ATM. Thecontent which is made available to purchase or select by the service maybe previously stored on the ATM. In response to a purchase/selection,the service may be operative to cause the ATM produce to a suitable DRMenabled file from the stored content, which DRM enabled file iswirelessly communicated from the ATM to the portable wireless device.

If the purchased/selected content has not been previously stored on theATM, the service may be operative to send the purchased/selected contentto the ATM. Depending on the size of the file, the service may transmita message back through the ATM to the portable wireless device whichconveys that the file is downloading to the ATM and to come back to theATM after a certain time interval has passed to retrieve the file. Theuser of the portable wireless device may then leave the vicinity of theATM and come back at a later time. When the portable wireless devicereestablished a connection with the ATM, the ATM may be operative toautomatically transmit the purchased/transmitted file to the portablewireless device without the need for the device to access the service.However, in other exemplary embodiments, the portable wireless devicemay access the service through the ATM prior to receiving the downloadedfile from the ATM.

Computer software instructions used in operating the automated bankingmachines and connected computers may be loaded from computer readablemedia or articles of various types into the respective computers. Suchcomputer software may be included on and loaded from one or morearticles such as diskettes, compact disks, DVDs and other optical ormagnetic media. Such software may also be included on articles such ashard disk drives, tapes, flash memory drives or other read-only orre-writable drives and storage devices. Other articles which includedata representative of the instructions for operating computers in themanner described herein are suitable for use in achieving operation ofautomated banking machines and systems in accordance with exemplaryembodiments.

The exemplary embodiments of the automated banking machines and systemsdescribed herein have been described with reference to particularsoftware components and features. Other embodiments of the invention mayinclude other or different software components which provide similarfunctionality.

Thus the new card activated cash dispensing automated banking machineand system of exemplary embodiments achieves at least one of the abovestated objectives, eliminate difficulties encountered in the use ofprior devices and systems, solve problems and attain the desirableresults described herein.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been used for brevity,clarity and understanding, however no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom because such terms are used for descriptive purposesand are intended to be broadly construed. Moreover, the descriptions andillustrations herein are by way of examples and the invention is notlimited to the exact details shown and described.

In the following claims any feature described as a means for performinga function shall be construed as encompassing any means known to thoseskilled in the art to be capable of performing the recited function, andshall not be limited to the features and structures shown herein or mereequivalents thereof.

Having described the features, discoveries and principles of theinvention, the manner in which it is constructed and operated, and theadvantages and useful results attained; the new and useful structures,devices, elements, arrangements, parts, combinations, systems,equipment, operations, methods and relationships are set forth in theappended claims.

1. Apparatus comprising: an automated banking machine, wherein theautomated banking machine is operative responsive at least in part todata read from data bearing records to cause financial transfers,wherein the automated banking machine includes: a card reader, whereinthe card, reader is operative to read card data from user cards, whereinthe card data corresponds to financial accounts, wherein the card readerincludes at least one processor, wherein the card reader includes a datastore, wherein the data store includes a device driver stored therein; acash dispenser; at least one computer, wherein the at least one computerincludes at least one processor, wherein the at least one computerincludes at least one automated banking machine software applicationcomponent, wherein the at least one processor of the card reader isoperative to communicate the device driver stored in the data store ofthe card reader to the at least one processor of the at least onecomputer, wherein the at least one automated banking machine softwareapplication component is operative in the at least one processor of theat least one computer to cause the device driver operating in the atleast one processor of the at least one computer to cause the cardreader to operate.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, furthercomprising a lookup service operating in the at least one processor ofthe at least one computer, wherein the at least one processor of thecard reader is operative to register with the lookup service.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 2, wherein the at least one processor ofthe card reader is operative to register with the lookup service, whichincludes sending data representative of the device driver to the lookupservice.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the lookupservice includes a data store, wherein the lookup service is operativein the at least one processor of the at least one computer to store thedata representative of the device driver in the data store.
 5. Theapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the automated banking machineincludes a plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devicesincludes the card reader and the cash dispenser, wherein the data storeof the lookup service includes data representative of device drivers foreach of the plurality of devices.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the at least one processor of the at least one computer includesa virtual machine wherein the device driver is operative to execute inthe virtual machine.
 7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein thevirtual machine includes a java virtual machine, wherein the devicedriver corresponds to a java service proxy software component.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 7, wherein the service proxy softwarecomponent defines methods and events usable by the at least oneautomated banking machine software application component to communicatewith the card reader.
 9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein thecard reader includes a java virtual machine that is operative in the atleast one processor of the card reader, wherein the card reader isoperative to acquire a further service proxy software componentassociated with the at least one automated banking machine softwareapplication component, wherein the further service proxy softwarecomponent is operative to execute in the java virtual machine of thecard reader, wherein the card reader is operative to use the furtherservice proxy software component to communicate with the at least oneautomated banking machine software application component.
 10. Theapparatus according to claim 9, wherein the card reader is responsive toinsertion of a user card into the card reader, to read card data fromthe user card and to call a method of the further service proxy softwarecomponent, which method passes the card data read from the user card tothe at least one automated banking machine software applicationcomponent.
 11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cashdispenser includes at least one processor, wherein the cash dispenserincludes a data store, wherein the data store includes a further devicedriver stored therein, wherein the at least one processor of the cashdispenser is operative to communicate the further device driver storedin the data store of the cash dispenser to the at least one processor ofthe at least one computer, wherein the at least one automated bankingmachine software application component is operative in the at least oneprocessor of the at least one computer to cause the further devicedriver operating in the at least one processor of the at least onecomputer to cause the cash dispenser to operate.
 12. The apparatusaccording to claim 11, wherein the automated banking machine includes atleast one input device and a display device, wherein the at least oneautomated banking machine software application component is operative inthe at least one processor of the at least one computer to cause thedisplay device to output a graphical user interface, wherein the atleast one automated banking machine software application component isoperative responsive to at least one input received through operation ofthe at least one input device to cause the further device driveroperating in the at least one processor of the at least one computer tocause the cash dispenser to dispense cash.
 13. The apparatus accordingto claim 1, wherein the automated banking machine includes a network,wherein the at least one computer, the card reader, and the cashdispenser are in operative connection with the network.
 14. Apparatuscomprising: an automated banking machine, wherein the automated bankingmachine is operative responsive at least in part to data read from databearing records to cause financial transfers, wherein the automatedbanking machine includes: a card reader, wherein the card reader isoperative to read card data from user cards, wherein the card datacorresponds to financial accounts, wherein the card reader includes atleast one processor; a cash dispenser; at least one computer, whereinthe at least one computer includes at least one processor, wherein theat least one computer includes at least one automated banking machinesoftware application component, wherein the at least one computerincludes a data store, wherein the data store includes a service proxysoftware component stored therein, wherein the at least one processor ofthe at least one card reader is operative responsive to being initiallyinstalled in the automated banking machine to register with the at leastone computer and to receive responsive to registration with the at leastone computer, the service proxy software component stored in the datastore from the at least one processor of the at least one computer,wherein the at least one processor of the card reader is operative tocall a method of the service proxy software component operating in theat least one processor of the card reader to communicate card data readfrom a user card to the automated banking machine software applicationcomponent.
 15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the cardreader includes a data store, wherein the data store includes theservice proxy software component received from the at least one computerand further a further service proxy software component corresponding toa device driver of the card reader, wherein the at least one processorof the card reader is operative to communicate the further service proxystored in the data store of the card reader to the at least oneprocessor of the at least one computer, wherein the at least oneautomated banking machine software application component is operative inthe at least one processor of the at least one computer to cause thefurther service proxy operating in the at least one processor of the atleast one computer to cause the card reader operate.
 16. The apparatusaccording to claim 15, wherein the automated banking machine includes atleast one input device and a display device, wherein the at least oneautomated banking machine software application component is operative inthe at least one processor of the at least one computer to cause thedisplay device to output a graphical user interface, wherein the atleast one automated banking machine software application component isoperative responsive to at least one input received through operation ofthe at least one input device to cause the further service proxysoftware component operating in the at least one processor of the atleast one computer to cause the card reader to operate.
 17. Apparatuscomprising: an automated banking machine, wherein the automated bankingmachine is operative responsive at least in part to data read from databearing records to cause financial transfers, wherein the automatedbanking machine includes: a card reader, wherein the card reader isoperative to read card data from user cards, wherein the card datacorresponds to financial accounts, and a cash dispenser, wherein thecash dispenser includes at least one processor, wherein the cashdispenser includes a data store, wherein the data store includes adevice driver stored therein; and at least one computer, wherein the atleast one computer includes at least one processor, wherein the at leastone computer includes at least one automated banking machine softwareapplication component, wherein the at least one processor of the cashdispenser is operative to communicate the device driver stored in thedata store of the cash dispenser to the at least one processor of the atleast one computer, wherein the at least one automated banking machinesoftware application component is operative in the at least oneprocessor of the at least one computer to cause the device driveroperating in the at least one processor of the at least one computer tocause the cash dispenser to operate.
 18. The apparatus according toclaim 17, wherein the automated banking machine includes at least oneinput device and a display, wherein the at least one automated bankingmachine software application component is operative in the at least oneprocessor of the at least one computer to cause the display to output agraphical user interface, wherein the at least one automated bankingmachine software application component is operative responsive at leastin part to at least one input received through operation of the at leastone input device to cause the device driver operating in the at leastone processor of the at least one computer to cause the cash dispenserto dispense cash.